The New Zealand opening batter Will Young delivered a composed yet crucial century in the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 against Pakistan as he anchored the innings when wickets tumbled at the other end.
Displaying great temperament, Young’s well-crafted knock of 101* off 109 balls is on the way to guide the Kiwis to a competitive total.
Despite losing three key wickets early on, Young remained steady and played with a much needed blend of both caution and aggression. He smashed 11 boundaries and a towering six, marking his fourth ODI century. His innings has proved vital as New Zealand’s other batters struggled to convert their starts into substantial scores.
Pakistan picks early wickets against New Zealand
New Zealand got off to an interesting start but suffered an early setback when opener Devon Conway fell in the eighth over with just 39 runs on the board. Conway, who managed only 10 runs off 17 balls, was dismissed by Pakistan’s young mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed.
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The next big setback came as Kane Williamson, the backbone of New Zealand’s batting lineup, was dismissed cheaply for a single by a sharp delivery from Naseem Shah that edged the ball behind to the wicketkeeper.
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Later, Daryl Mitchell tried to stabilize the innings alongside Young but struggled to find the fluency. After playing 24 deliveries, he could score only 10 runs before Haris Rauf got him out. At this stage, New Zealand found themselves in trouble, needing a solid partnership to rebuild. Tom Latham entered the field and scored a magnificent half century as he handled the innings alongside Will Young.
Will Young Anchors the Innings for New Zealand
Amid the top-order collapse, Will Young showcased great maturity. His ability to attack when necessary kept New Zealand’s innings on track.
The 32-year-old top-order batter now has 1508 runs in 40 ODIs, including four centuries and ten half-centuries.
However, Young’s recent form had raised concerns, as he struggled in the recently concluded tri-series against Pakistan and South Africa. In that series, he managed scores of just 19 against South Africa and four and five in two matches against Pakistan.
With this century, Young not only returned to form but also played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s Champions Trophy campaign opener, giving them a solid lead in their opening game.
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